Scoring mechanism for automated ATC systems

Given the exponential expansion of air transport that pressures the existing infrastructure and makes the current systems over-capacitated, it is no surprise that automated Air Traffic Control (ATC) Systems are on the rise. These systems will improve the situational awareness of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) while reducing their workload and potentially allowing for capacity increases. An example of such a system is the prototype ATC Real Ground-Breaking Operational System (ARGOS), entirely designed by EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC). The system is evolving daily, and it will become MUAC¿s most intelligent agent to support ATCOs in their decision-making process. It is built to take complete care of basic Controller-Pilot Data-Link Communications (CPDLC), i.e., flights logged onto CPDLC not involved in any complex scenario, and to provide support for complex traffic scenarios. The current version provides conflict detection tools and suggests conflict-free trajectories. The prototype lacks a metrics-based system to evaluate its performance to be able to tune its parameters; thus, the focus of this project is to design a scoring mechanism to assess its performance based on the instructions given to the pilot. The first part is represented by the development of a concept that incorporates the current safety criteria in ATC and introduces new performance criteria relevant to ARGOS (and ATC). In contrast, the second part is a posteriori analysis of the output log files of the prototype that store the coordinates of all current simulated flights along with the commands given by ARGOS. Two types of scores were considered. The D-Score or the decreasing score measures the efficiency of ARGOS concerning operational safety. In this case, a score of 100% is perfect. It is conceptualized according to safety ATC requirements. The I-Score or the increasing score measures the inefficiency of ARGOS, so higher is less effective. It provides information related to the performance of the trajectory proposed by ARGOS.Incomin

EL CONCURSO DE ACREEDORES

El trabajo realizado consiste en el estudio del concurso de acreedores y su aplicación a las empresas. Principalmente se desarrollan los aspectos más importantes, el concepto, los tipos de concursos, la evolución en España según solicitante del concurso, actividad económica y comunidad autónoma. Asimismo se resumen las nuevas reformas que se han ido realizando a lo largo de los años desde la entrada en vigor de la Ley 22/2003. En otro apartado vemos paso a paso todas las fases del procedimiento concursal y los efectos que surgen sobre el deudor, el acreedor y los contratos una vez declarados el concurso. Por último, para darle una visión más práctica al trabajo, se analiza un caso real de una empresa, la situación en la que se encuentra, las deudas que ha contraído y como ha llegado a esta situación.<br /

Stroke quality indicators in Balti Clinical Hospital

Background: The cerebrovascular pathologies are among the most important causes of morbidity, mortality and disabilities worldwide and in the Republic of Moldova. The aim of the study was the analysis of the stroke care quality indicators of patients in Balti Clinical Hospital. Material and methods: We present a retrospective study that included medical records (from January to April, 2021) of 72 patients with stroke, confirmed clinically and by cerebral CT scan. Results: The mean age of the patients included in our study was 65.8 ± 14.7 years old, 34 men and 38 women. The mean timing from the first symptoms till the admission at the Emergency department was 7.0±3.5 hours. The mean timing spent at the Emergency department was 3.0 ± 1.5 hours. CT-scan examination 24 hours after hospitalization was performed in 63.75% of the patients. Cerebral vessel dopplerography was performed in 6 patients. Thrombolytic therapy was not performed in any of the patients. The mean duration of treatment was 10.0 ± 3.0 days. 65 patients were discharged with an amelioration, while 7 patients died. Conclusions: The qualitative indices in specialized medical care for cerebral attack patients in Balti Clinical Hospital were influenced by the following factors: patients’ presentation out of the therapeutical window as well as the impossibility of performing a cerebral CT-scan in the first 24 hours at the hospital, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic situation

Earthquake Response Spectra of a Soft Soil Layer over a Half-Space

Earthquake response spectra as defined by Eurocode 8 (German NAD) are restricted to soils with shear wave velocities greater than 150 m/s. For soft soil layers e.g. of clay underlain by bedrock special investigations are required because resonance effects of the layer significantly influence the shape of the spectrum. Numerical investigations are normally based on a one-dimensional theory of horizontally polarized shear waves propagating in vertical direction. The paper describes a parametric study to define acceleration response spectra for a soft soil over a half-space for a wide range of soil layer heights and material parameters. Based on this study a simplified method to describe response spectra for the model of a soft soil layer underlain by a viscoelastic halfspace is given

Evaluation of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Genotypes for Nutraceutical Value Based on Leaves Fatty Acids Composition

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a traditional vegetable grown and consumed in some Spanish regions. The objective of this study was to determine the variability and evolution of fatty acid composition in a borage germplasm collection formed by wild types, breeding lines, commercial varieties, and landraces. Fatty acids were analysed in petioles, the commonly edible part of the leaves, and the leaf blades, the by-product of the borage industry, in two growth stages: at the optimal harvest period (120 days after sowing) and at the end of the harvest period (150 days after sowing). The results showed that for each of the eight fatty acids identified, there were significant differences among the twelve borage genotypes depending on the developmental plant stage at sampling date and the part of the leaf analysed, the interaction effect also being statistically significant. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids identified were: linoleic acid (18:2 n6, LA), α-linolenic acid (18:3 n3, ALA), γ-linolenic acid (18:3 n6, GLA), and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3), account for approximately 70% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Blue-flowered genotypes differ from white-flowered genotypes by their high content of ALA and SDA, which can be exploited in borage breeding programs. Petioles from young plants present higher n6 fatty acids, while older plants produce a great amount of n3 fatty acids. Besides, the higher content of ALA in the leaf blades gives them a good dietary potential. All these fatty acids, with multiple health benefits, support the nutraceutical interest of borage leaves (both petioles and leaf blades) for human consumption, animal feeding, medicine, and pharmacy.Publishe

Evaluation of borage (Borago officinalis L.) genotypes for nutraceutical value based on leaves fatty acids composition

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a traditional vegetable grown and consumed in some Spanish regions. The objective of this study was to determine the variability and evolution of fatty acid composition in a borage germplasm collection formed by wild types, breeding lines, commercial varieties, and landraces. Fatty acids were analysed in petioles, the commonly edible part of the leaves, and the leaf blades, the by-product of the borage industry, in two growth stages: at the optimal harvest period (120 days after sowing) and at the end of the harvest period (150 days after sowing). The results showed that for each of the eight fatty acids identified, there were significant differences among the twelve borage genotypes depending on the developmental plant stage at sampling date and the part of the leaf analysed, the interaction effect also being statistically significant. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids identified were: linoleic acid (18:2 n6, LA), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n3, ALA), gamma-linolenic acid (18:3 n6, GLA), and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3), account for approximately 70% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Blue-flowered genotypes differ from white-flowered genotypes by their high content of ALA and SDA, which can be exploited in borage breeding programs. Petioles from young plants present higher n6 fatty acids, while older plants produce a great amount of n3 fatty acids